Female gender is a risk factor for pain, discomfort, and fatigue after laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Female gender is a risk factor for early pain after several specific surgical procedures but has not been studied in detail after laparoscopic groin hernia repair. The aim of this study was to compare early postoperative pain, discomfort, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting between genders undergoing laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

METHODS:

Prospective consecutive enrollment of women and age-matched (± 1 year) and uni-/bilateral hernia-matched male patients undergoing elective transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP). Patients in the two groups received a similar anesthetic, surgical, and analgesic treatment protocol.

RESULTS:

Between August 2009 and August 2010, 25 women and 25 men undergoing elective TAPP were prospectively included in the analysis (n = 50) with no significant difference between groups in psychological status regarding anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing. On day 0, women had significantly more pain during rest (p = 0.015) and coughing (p = 0.012), discomfort (p = 0.001), and fatigue (0.020) compared with men. Additionally, cumulative overall postoperative pain during coughing, discomfort, and fatigue on day 0-3 was significantly higher in women compared with men (all p values < 0.05). Women required significantly more opioids (p = 0.015) and had a significantly higher incidence of vomiting on days 0 and 1 (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS:

Women experienced more pain, discomfort, and fatigue compared with men after laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

Registration number NCT00962338 ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ).

• Authors: M A Tolver, P Strandfelt, J Rosenberg, T Bisgaard
• Journal: Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery (Hernia) Vol. 17 Issue 3 Pg. 321-7 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1248-9204 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 22790511 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Analgesics, Opioid (therapeutic use)
• Cough (complications)
• Fatigue (etiology)
• Female
• Hernia, Inguinal (surgery)
• Herniorrhaphy (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Laparoscopy (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Pain, Postoperative (drug therapy, etiology)
• Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (etiology)
• Sex Factors
• Time Factors
• Young Adult